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Vibrations and acoustic noise are some of the fundamental problems in the design and exploitation of switched reluctance motors (SRMs). Adequate experimental and analysis methods may help to resolve these problems. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the magnetic force distribution in SRM and a procedure for calculating the magnetic forces and the resulting vibrations based on the 2D finite element method. Magnetic field and force computations and a structural analysis of the stator have been carried out in order to compute the frequency spectrum of the generalized forces and displacements of the most relevant vibration modes. It is shown that for these vibration modes, the frequency spectrum can be predicted analytically. The theoretical and the numerical analyses have been applied to a 6/4 SRM and an experimental validation is presented.

To develop a homogenization technique to directly and efficiently take the eddy current effects in laminated magnetic cores within time domain finite element (FE) analyses.

The technique is developed for being used within a 3D magnetodynamic b‐conform FE formulation, e.g. using a magnetic vector potential. To avoid a fine FE discretization of all the laminations of a magnetic core, this one is considered as a source region that carries predefined current and magnetic flux density distributions describing the eddy currents and skin effect along each lamination thickness. Both these distributions are related and are first approximated with sub‐basis functions. Through the homogenization or averaging of the sub‐basis functions contributions in the FE formulation, the stacked laminations are then converted into continua, thus implicitly considering the eddy current loops produced by parallel magnetic fluxes. The continuum is then approximated with classical FE basis functions and can be defined on a coarser discretization.

The developed method appears attractive for directly and efficiently taking into account within finite element analyses the eddy current effects, i.e. the associated losses and magnetic flux reduction, that are particularly significant for high frequency excitations. The time domain analysis allows the consideration of both non‐linear and transient phenomena.

The averaging of sub‐basis functions contributions, describing fine distributions of fields, in an FE formulation leads to an original way of homogenizing laminated regions. The proposed method is naturally adapted for time domain analyses and in some sense generalizes what can be done more easily in the frequency domain.

This paper seeks to develop a sub‐domain perturbation technique to efficiently calculate strong skin and proximity effects in conductors within frequency and time domain finite element (FE) analyses.

A reference eddy current FE problem is first solved by considering perfect conductors. This is done via appropriate boundary conditions (BCs) on the conductors. Next the solution of the reference problem gives the source for eddy current FE perturbation sub‐problems in each conductor then considered with a finite conductivity. Each of these problems requires an appropriate volume mesh of the associated conductor and its surrounding region.

The skin and proximity effects in both active and passive conductors can be accurately determined in a wide frequency range, allowing for precise losses calculations in inductors as well as in external conducting pieces.

The developed method allows one to accurately determine the current density distributions and ensuing losses in conductors of any shape, not only in the frequency domain but also in the time domain. Therefore, it extends the domain of validity and applicability of impedance‐type BC techniques. It also offers an original way to uncouple FE regions that allows the solution process to be lightened, as well as efficient parameterized analyses on the signal form and the conductor characteristics.

The aim of this paper is the experimental validation of an original time‐domain thin‐shell formulation. The numerical results of a three‐dimensional thin‐shell model are compared with the measurements performed on a heating device at different working frequencies.

A time‐domain extension of the classical frequency‐domain thin‐shell approach is used for the finite‐element analysis of a shielded pulse‐current induction heater. The time‐domain interface conditions at the shell surface are expressed in terms of the average flux density vector in the shell, as well as in terms of a limited number of higher‐order components.

A very good agreement between measurements and simulations is observed. A clear advantage of the proposed thin‐shell approach is that the mesh of the computation domain does not depend on the working frequency anymore. It provides a good compromise between computational cost and accuracy. Indeed, adding a sufficient number of induction components, a very high accuracy can be achieved.

The method is based on the coupling of a time‐domain 1D thin‐shell model with a magnetic vector potential formulation via the surface integral term. A limited number of additional unknowns for the magnetic flux density are incorporated on the shell boundary.

The aim is to develop a nonlinear transformer model to achieve an accurate model to obtain the frequency components of the magnetizing current based on the harmonic voltages at the primary and secondary side. So, it can easily be implemented in a harmonic load‐flow program.

The transformer model is based on the harmonic balance method. The electric and magnetic equations of the transformer are derived from the electric and magnetic equivalent circuits.

The transformer model can be easily implemented in a harmonic load‐flow program. The accuracy of the model has been shown by comparing it with a finite element simulation. The transformer model can be used with asymmetrical supply voltages, because different saturation levels of the phases can occur. There is a coupling between the phases which can be concluded out of the asymmetrical currents in the transformer under symmetrical supply voltages.

The transformer model does not consider the iron losses and the interharmonics. In future work the transformer model will be used to study the harmonic losses in distribution networks, so the transformer losses due to these harmonics have to be considered. This can be achieved with a postcalculation process where the magnetic flux density is used to calculate the eddy current losses and the magnetic field intensity will be applied in a static Preisach model to quantify the hysteresis losses.

The model can be used in a harmonic load‐flow program in order to obtain more accurate simulations for the power system analysis and design.

The model presented in this paper is more detailed than similar papers found in literature (saturation of the yokes, coupling between the phases, interaction between different harmonics) and still it takes a brief simulation time.

The sliding‐surface and moving‐band techniques are introduced in frequency‐domain finite element formulations to model the solid‐body motion of the rotors in an cylindrical machine. Both techniques are compared concerning their feasibility and computational efficiency. A frequency‐domain model of a capacitor motor is equipped with a sliding surface and compared to a transient model with moving band. This example illustrates the advantages of frequency‐domain simulation over transient simulation for the simulation of steady‐state working conditions of electrical machines.

To review and discuss recently proposed homogenization methods for laminated magnetic cores and multi‐turn windings in FE models of electromagnetic devices.

The frequency‐domain homogenization is based on the adoption of complex and frequency‐dependent material characteristics (e.g. reluctivity) in the homogenized domain. The value of the complex quantity is obtained analytically or by means of a simple 2D FE model. The time‐domain counterpart requires the introduction of additional unknowns and equation.

The homogenization methods allow to take into account the global eddy current effect in the individual laminations and wires, with a reasonable precision and computational cost.

The homogenization methods have been validated numerically, i.e. by comparison with brute‐force FE computations where the eddy current effects are directly and accurately taken into account. Experimental validation should follow.

The analogy between the homogenization of laminated cores and windings has been evidenced.

To study the inclusion of inter‐bar (IB) currents in a multi‐slice finite element (FE) model of induction motors and in particular the effect of the associated skew discretisation. To validate the model experimentally.

Both a classical uniform distribution and a gauss distribution of the slices and the lumped IB resistances are considered. Measurements on a 3 kW induction motor allows one to estimate its IB resistance and to validate the FE model.

A gauss distribution of the slices allows one to use fewer slices and thus reduces the computational cost. The simulation results show that, at full load, skew changes the different loss components significantly, while the IB currents have a minor effect.

The direct measurement of the IB resistance is by no means trivial. In the frame of this paper, it was indirectly determined, namely by means of a short‐circuit test.

The gauss distribution of the slices and the IB resistance; the systematic study of the skew discretisation; the experimental determination of the IB resistance.